Dramatic moment man who 'threatened to blow up the White House' is Tasered by police after eight-hour stand-off

By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated:

This is the moment a man making threats against the White House was finally seized from his car after an eight-hour stand-off.

The drama unfolded on Wednesday when the man, identified as Joseph Moshe, called a police dispatch number and threatened to blow up the White House, according to reports.

Officers then spotted his red Volkswagen Beetle at about 10am and pursued him through the west side of Los Angeles.

Stand off: Police try to force Joseph Moshe out of his car in the Federal Building parking lot in Los Angeles, California during a pursuit which began when he allegedly made threats against the White House

Stand-off: Police try to force Joseph Moshe out of his car in the Federal Building parking lot in Los Angeles, California during a pursuit which began when he allegedly made threats against the White House

No surrender: Moshe withstands several rounds of chemical agents aimed at the car and remains inside

No surrender: Moshe withstands several rounds of chemical agents aimed at the car and remains inside

Moshe headed to the federal building parking area and drove around it once before a police SUV blocked him as he tried to return to the street. Authorities then surrounded his car with police cruisers and a large armored vehicle.

The federal building was locked down at noon and employees were told to stay inside.

The man then sat in the car smoking for hours before a robot broke a rear window of the car so officers could see inside and try to communicate. However Moshe did not respond, said a police spokesman.

Besieged: He is sprayed in the face by police after opening the window to let out the fumes

Besieged: He is sprayed in the face by police after opening the window to let out the fumes

Surrounded: A robot is stationed next to the suspect's vehicle broke in order to break a rear window of the car so officers can see inside and try to communicate

Surrounded: A robot is stationed next to the suspect's vehicle in order to break a rear window so officers can see inside and try to communicate

A police robot manoeuvred next to the driver's door, and an armored vehicle parked in front of the vehicle so the man could not escape.

Police then fired tear gas into the suspect's vehicle in an attempt to force him to surrender.

But Moshe remained inside the car and briefly wound down the passenger window to let out the fumes.

He withstood four rounds of chemical agents before officers shot out the drivers' window with a bean bag gun.

Eight hours later: Moshe is is hit with an electrical shock stun gun to end the standoff

Eight hours later: Moshe is hit with a Taser to end the stand-off

Officers then used a Taser to restrain him before finally pulling him out of the car

Detective Gus Villanueva said Moshe was booked on two previous unrelated misdemeanor warrants but did not provide details. Officials later said he was taken to a hospital for observation.

Asked how the man was able to withstand multiple rounds of tear gas, Villanueva said some people are able to resist the chemicals.

'I can't explain that, there's no way to explain that,' he said.

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